PokerStars vs. Party Poker Rake Comparison

In this edition of poker rake comparisons, we have PartyPoker going up against industry goliath, PokerStars. Using some of the most popular poker games and stakes as comparisons, we will determine which site offers more favorable rake for which games.

Note that these rake figures are averages, and each player’s style will affect their rake paid. In general, tighter players will pay less rake than loose players.

No Limit Holdem

6-max

Stake

6-Max NLHE (bb/100)

PokerStars

Party Poker

25nl

7.84

9.71

50nl

7.27

8.99

100nl

5.61

7.71

200nl

3.98

5.54

400nl

2.67

3.77

PokerStars wins at every stake for 6-max NLHE. Not much to interpret here, PokerStars takes this category.

Full Ring

Stake

Full Ring NLHE (bb/100)

PokerStars

Party Poker

25nl

5.90

7.19

50nl

5.44

7.33

100nl

4.45

6.45

200nl

3.15

5.12

400nl

2.27

3.68

Another sweep for PokerStars as they take every stake for full ring NLHE as well.

PLO (6-Max)

Cue the broken record, PokerStars wins once again at every stake, this time in the PLO 6-max category.

Tournaments

Buy-In Level

Tournaments

PokerStars

Party Poker

<7

12%

11%

<60

9%

11%

<500

7%

9%

500+

5%

9%

Party Poker shows life by edging out PokerStars in the under $7 tournament rake category by one percentage point (11% vs. 12%). They fall short in the rest of the buy-in categories, however, giving PokerStars the overall nod in this category.

Other Factors to Consider

These numbers do not factor in rakeback. PokerStars and Party Poker both offer VIP programs in lieu of rakeback. Determining which level you would be at for each site, based on volume, will be an important factor in making a site decision. To calculate what your rakeback would be at PokerStars, visit our PokerStars Rakeback Calculator.

Traffic also needs to be considered. According to Pokerscout, PokerStars has significantly higher overall traffic than PartyPoker. However, being the industry goliath, PokerStars attracts a large percentage of working professionals. This may make Party Poker more attractive for some players despite their higher rake.

How Much Cash Back Will I Earn?

Rakeback increases your winnings from online poker as you continually earn money back from every raked hand or tournament you play.

Many players earn a living wage from rakeback alone. Use the calculator below to estimate the size of payments you’ll get over a given period of time. The calculator will compute your expected daily, weekly, and monthly cash back depending on the stakes and tables you input.